It's holiday time, and it seems that Americans aren't letting anything dampen their spirits!
First Lady Laura Bush helped turn on the holiday cheer in New York City last week. She flicked the switch at Rockefeller Center's annual Christmas tree lighting celebration. "The magic has returned to the Big Apple and it's time to turn on the lights," she said.
The sound of jingle bells and cash registers ringing was echoing in malls across the country. Holiday spending was expected to be low because of nervousness about the economy . But many stores have reported strong sales. Walmart had the biggest sales day in its history on the day after Thanksgiving.
With the arrival of Microsoft's X-BOX and Nintendo's GameCube, home entertainment systems are especially hot for the holidays. Sales of electronics are up 10% over last year's.
John Mott, who manages a mall in West Nyack, New York, was cheered by the crowds of shoppers. "People have counted their blessings, and they're out in force."